Nintendo Reveals When Wii U and 3DS Online Services Will Shut Down

The official Nintendo of America Twitter account has announced that April 8 will be the end of service date for Wii U and 3DS online functionality. Nintendo previously revealed the planned shutdown of Wii U and 3DS servers in October 2023, but this latest announcement has finally given fans an exact date for the end of the consoles' online services.

A powerhouse in the video game industry, Nintendo became popular for first-party franchises like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, while also establishing itself as a leader in handheld gaming. While the Wii U and 3DS differed greatly in terms of commercial success, fans have been saddened by the news that online service will officially come to an end for these two devices.

Nintendo will be officially ending online services for the Wii U and 3DS on April 8. The announcement states that functionality for online play and communication will lose service. Fans will have until March 11 to merge unused Nintendo eShop balances with their Nintendo Account, allowing players to utilize any remaining points on the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo customer support announcement states that the termination of service comes as a natural ending of the consoles' life cycles, and fans will be able to continue using their devices for offline play. Audiences have voiced their disappointment with the decision, though some have begun speculating that the move may coincide with rumors of the Nintendo Switch 2 release and preparations. While the Switch 2 remains unconfirmed, fans are hoping that the loss of functionality on the Wii U and 3DS will be supplemented with something new.

The Wii U and 3DS online servers will shut down Monday, April 8 at 4pm Pacific Daylight Time. Fans who wish to transfer their eShop points to their Nintendo Account will have until Monday, March 11 at 10pm PDT to do so. Players have lamented the scheduled termination of online play, as a number of fans have continued to enjoy the games the systems offered. The 3DS